JULY 24, 2017 – Round two of the freshman pacing filly Ontario Sire Stakes Gold Series division was identical to round one as Percy Bluechip and Big Thong captured their second straight harness racing victories at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening.
Off her Canadian and Ontario Sires Stakes record mile in the July 9 season opener at Georgian Downs, Percy Bluechip was sent off as the heavy favourite in the first $96,400 division. Starting from Post 2 Percy Bluechip and driver Trevor Henry of Arthur, ON floated off the starting gate and settled briefly in third as Mrs Bailey reached the opening quarter in :26.3, but heading down the backstretch the favourites took aim on the lead. On top by almost two lengths at the :55.2 half and just over two at the 1:23.4 three-quarters, Percy Bluechip left the field behind in the stretch, pulling away to a five length victory in 1:51.4. Lady Grande and Play The Bell finished second and third.
"I just finished talking to Trevor (Henry) and he said that she won very easy," said trainer Dr. Ian Moore. "When he moved her she wanted to go 100 miles an hour there, and she put in a few little steps, not really steps, just trying to get going 100 I guess is what she was doing, but then she relaxed and he just spoke to her around the final turn, that's all he did, never touched her or anything, so she did that on her own."
The Puslinch, ON resident shares ownership of Percy Bluechip with his partners in the Shadow Two Stable of Puslinch, James and Wilma Mackenzie of Ennismore, ON and Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, QC. The partners purchased the daughter of Shadow Play and Advantest for $110,000 at last fall's Forest City Yearling Sale and through two starts she has returned $96,400.
"I think she's a very special filly and I'm going to manage her as best I can," said Dr. Moore. "It's very important with young horses to take care of them – you take care of them, they'll take care of you."
Percy Bluechip is eligible to a number of open stake races and Dr. Moore and his partners are hoping that she can compete against the best two-year-old pacing fillies in North America in races like the Eternal Camnation, Champlain Stakes and Shes A Great Lady at Mohawk.
"Hopefully she's going to be good enough to go with them. I mean, as you know, every year, in any particular OSS class, there's only one or two out of each division that will ever do with the American-breds, so I am being realistic about that," noted Dr. Moore. "I guess time will tell, but that's what we're striving for anyway, at this point in time."
Percy Bluechip
Unlike Percy Bluechip, Big Thong has just one open stake race on her agenda this summer, the Champlain Stakes on Sept. 2.
"I had three or four other fillies that I paid up in the Shes A Great Lady and Breeders Crown and stuff, because they were looking better than her. She was just kind of plain ordinary and I didn't pay her up in anything," said trainer Scott McEneny. "I just paid her in the Sires Stakes, and then when she started stepping up I figured I'd pay the Champlain, so she only has the Sires Stakes and the Champlain. I wish I had her in the other stuff, but in hind sight it might be all right, she's only going to have about eight, nine starts into her. She's going to be a nice big mare next year, it'll be better."
Big Thong scored her second straight Gold Series victory from Post 3 in the second division and the Big Jim daughter also ran into some difficulty reaching the front. Sitting fourth at the :27 quarter posted by Just Her Luck, Big Thong was making a move up the outside as the fillies rolled into the backstretch when she was nudged out wide by Oxford Comma, who shifted into the outer lane from third. As soon as Oxford Comma reached the front, posting a :55.1 half, Big Thong was rolling on by and had taken a one and three-quarter length lead by the 1:23.1 three-quarters. Sudden Passing took a run at the leader in the stretch, but Big Thong refused to yield, hitting the wire one and one-quarter lengths the best in a personal best 1:52.1. Sudden Passing settled for second with Just Her Luck third.
"She actually got used pretty hard there tonight. It would've been easier if he (driver Robert Shepherd with Oxford Comma) didn't pull out in front of us there, we would've got to the front a lot easier," noted McEneny. "It would have been a lot easier race; anyways we got the job done."
James MacDonald of Guelph, ON crafted the win for the trainer, his wife Michelle McEneny of Waterdown, Teresa Davidson of Milton, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga and Cora Marshall of Jarvis, ON. The partners purchased Big Thong from the Harrisburg Yearling Sale for $20,000 US and she has earned $99,500 in her first three lifetime starts.
Big Thong
The next opportunity for Percy Bluechip and Big Thong to add to their Ontario Sires Stakes trophy collection comes August 19 at Mohawk Racetrack.
More provincial trophies will be awarded at Mohawk on Tuesday evening as the two-year-old trotting fillies arrive at the Campbellville oval for their second Gold Series event. Post time for Tuesday's event is 7:30 pm and the fillies will compete in Races 3 and 6.
OSS Program Information
For rules, notices, Program changes, up-to-date point standings, race replays, and more, visit: www.ontariosiresstakes.com
Ontario Racing